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Free agent righthander Jair Jurrjens, who was not tendered by the Braves after a rough 2012 season, has agreed to a deal with the Orioles, CBSSports.com has learned.

Jurrjens will receive a $1.5 million base on a Major League deal and can bring his totalk to $4 million with incentives.

Orioles GM Dan Duquette did a superb job finding pitching gems last winter, and this is another of the low-risk variety. Jurrjens went 3-4 with a 6.89 ERA with Atlanta and spent much of the year in the minors.

This is a solid move and it didn't really hurt the payroll. The guy had a rotten 2012 but depth is important and if he wants a shot at a secure future then he can earn it in Baltimore. For all we know he could be on the starting rotation when the season begins and it allows us to get other arms work needed elsewhere.

As a Braves fan I am sorry to see him leave Atlanta, but as an Orioles fan I am Happy! Happy! Happy! As someone who has watched most of JJ's starts I feel pretty confident that he has many more great years ahead of him, and if last years injuries are behind him he may well be the true ace the O's need.

MemOrioles wrote:As a Braves fan I am sorry to see him leave Atlanta, but as an Orioles fan I am Happy! Happy! Happy! As someone who has watched most of JJ's starts I feel pretty confident that he has many more great years ahead of him, and if last years injuries are behind him he may well be the true ace the O's need.

Jair Jurrjens time line.August 15, 2007 Detroit purchases Jair's contract and is placed on the 40/25 man roster for the first time in his career.August 26, 2007 Placed on 15 Day DLSeptember 11, 2007 Activated from DLOctober 29, 2007 Traded to AtlantaMay 05, 2010 Placed on the 15 Day DLJune 39, 2010 Activated from DLOctober 07, 2010 Reassigned to minors (This was for the playoff roster not an option)October 13, 2010 reactivatedApril 03, 2011 Placed on 15 Day DLApril 16, 2011 Activated from DLAugust 06, 2011 Placed on 15 Day DLAugust 17, 2011 Activated from DLApril 24, 2012 Optioned to the Minors (This is the first option that I can find that is used)November 30, 2012 Non Tendered/Filed for Free agency

I do believe that Jair Jurrjens has two options remaining with what I can find about his transactions. This makes him a better signing than I had first thought. Allow him to stay in extended Spring Training with Rick Peterson and rediscover his sinker if he does not have it at the end of Spring Training. If all goes well he would have a target date of Mid May to be placed on the 25 Man Roster.

thezeroes wrote:Jair Jurrjens time line.August 15, 2007 Detroit purchases Jair's contract and is placed on the 40/25 man roster for the first time in his career.August 26, 2007 Placed on 15 Day DLSeptember 11, 2007 Activated from DLOctober 29, 2007 Traded to AtlantaMay 05, 2010 Placed on the 15 Day DLJune 39, 2010 Activated from DLOctober 07, 2010 Reassigned to minors (This was for the playoff roster not an option)October 13, 2010 reactivatedApril 03, 2011 Placed on 15 Day DLApril 16, 2011 Activated from DLAugust 06, 2011 Placed on 15 Day DLAugust 17, 2011 Activated from DLApril 24, 2012 Optioned to the Minors (This is the first option that I can find that is used)November 30, 2012 Non Tendered/Filed for Free agency

I do believe that Jair Jurrjens has two options remaining with what I can find about his transactions. This makes him a better signing than I had first thought. Allow him to stay in extended Spring Training with Rick Peterson and rediscover his sinker if he does not have it at the end of Spring Training. If all goes well he would have a target date of Mid May to be placed on the 25 Man Roster.

Great research, strong analysis. POINTS!

The remaining option is the reason I want Porcello, too. Imagine going into the trading deadline with at least two quality young SPs to offer. It BOGGLES the imagination!

I am very glad we signed him and was hoping the Orioles would take a flyer on a low-risk, high-reward pitcher like Jurrjens. This dude must have been hurt or something last year because his numbers are just awful. thezeroes proposed a realistic scenario in which we leave him in extended spring training and help him find his sinker. Basically, we have two pitching slots to fill. Hammel, Chen, Tillman, Gonzalez, J. Johnson, O'Day, Patton, Hunter, Ayala, and Strop are all but locks. That leaves Steve Johnson, Tsuyoshi Wada, TJ McFarland, Jake Arrieta, Brian Matusz, Jair Jurrjens, and Zach Britton fighting for two spots I would assume. I think Matusz, Arrieta, and Britton all still have potential as starters, so they should go down to AAA IMO. Say Wada and Jurrjens are still at extended spring training come Opening Day, maybe Steve Johnson takes the 5th rotation spot and McFarland serves as a long man for the first month or so.

thezeroes wrote:Jair Jurrjens time line.August 15, 2007 Detroit purchases Jair's contract and is placed on the 40/25 man roster for the first time in his career.August 26, 2007 Placed on 15 Day DLSeptember 11, 2007 Activated from DLOctober 29, 2007 Traded to AtlantaMay 05, 2010 Placed on the 15 Day DLJune 39, 2010 Activated from DLOctober 07, 2010 Reassigned to minors (This was for the playoff roster not an option)October 13, 2010 reactivatedApril 03, 2011 Placed on 15 Day DLApril 16, 2011 Activated from DLAugust 06, 2011 Placed on 15 Day DLAugust 17, 2011 Activated from DLApril 24, 2012 Optioned to the Minors (This is the first option that I can find that is used)November 30, 2012 Non Tendered/Filed for Free agency

I do believe that Jair Jurrjens has two options remaining with what I can find about his transactions. This makes him a better signing than I had first thought. Allow him to stay in extended Spring Training with Rick Peterson and rediscover his sinker if he does not have it at the end of Spring Training. If all goes well he would have a target date of Mid May to be placed on the 25 Man Roster.

I think it's safe to assume that Saunders will not be back. With several teams in a bidding war I doubt the Orioles will over pay to bring him back. I think he ends up in Seattle. I would love to see Saunders back, as it has been said previously, you can never have enough good arms. Jurrjens was a good pick up. Duquette seems to be very good at picking players up off the scrap heap. Mclouth is another example. Good job DD.